The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organization announced, on Sunday, the discovery of the first two cases of coronavirus among athletes residing in the Olympic Village in the Japanese capital.
The organization did not identify the athletes.
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Since the delegates arrived, four athletes have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the organization, which will provide daily reports on tests conducted on athletes, individuals and staff authorized for the Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also confirmed that one of its members, South Korean Song Min Ryu, had tested positive upon arrival in Japan.
The 102-member body is expected to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday at a palace in the Japanese capital to attend the organization’s general assembly.
On Saturday, organizers announced the first case of infection in the village, but it was not an athlete.
The Olympic Village has a capacity of 17,000 people.
On Saturday, IOC President Thomas Bach said that of the 15,000 athletes, Olympic delegations and journalists who have arrived in Japan since July 1, 15 people have tested positive, a “very low rate” of 0.1%, he said.
The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for a year due to the pandemic, and strict health measures have been taken in Japan.
Almost every Olympic event between July 23 and August 8 will be held behind closed doors, and tens of thousands of participants – from athletes to officials and journalists from abroad – are subject to severe restrictions due to health risks.
Those countermeasures were not enough to reassure people in Japan, where Tokyo recorded 1,410 more cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, the highest daily total since January.
Agatha Christie is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, books, and current affairs. She is committed to producing accurate, informative content that helps readers stay informed about the latest developments in the UK and beyond.
